Liz Jaymal - Counselling Harrogate

Is the first appointment an assessment?

Assessment sounds a bit formal, in counselling it's an opportunity to get to know how I work, about the professional framework and conditions of the work together. Most of the session will be an opportunity for you to share your issues and concerns, for me to assess whether I can help you and for you to assess whether therapy is the right step for you just now.

Why do you have supervision?

Supervision provides support for me when working with clients. It gives me an opportunity to explore my relationship with the client, to become more aware of where we are together in the process and make the best of the resources available to us. Clients are presented anonymously and both myself and supervisor abide by the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and subject to it's complaint procedure (see BACP website).

Have you had therapy?

I had therapy over a two year period prior to beginning my training as a counsellor. During my training I undertook 50+ hours of personal therapy and 2 hours each week in group therapy for the duration of training. Each of the training courses I have undertaken have required me to present my own issues and concerns during skills sessions and residential weeks. The more I can be aware and understand myself the more I am able to meet and understand others in their experience. I believe this personal journey necessary to learning how to be with others.

How many sessions will I need?

This depends on what is enough for you, some clients return for continual personal development when they feel the need. Many clients find 6 sessions enough, some are happy with one session and others may continue for up to 2 years. I believe it appropriate to continue as long as progress is being made. If the process became static I would be questioning the way I am working and seeking clarification about what we are doing together, are we coming to an end or just stuck and needing to review and re-contract. A client may withdraw from the contract at anytime, however, it is useful to have a session to end, giving an opportunity to gather loose ends and say goodbye feeling a sense of completion.

What are the common benefits clients report after Counselling?

The benefits depend on the depth and scope the client/counsellor are committed to exploring. Short term therapy can bring enduring life changes, however, this depends on where we are on entry to counselling and on what seems appropriate at the time. Many say the most important benefit comes from freeing self from fear which is a most disabling emotion.

The more we become aware of ourselves and others the more choice, freedom and self-trust comes. We begin to feel at home in who we are, more alive and involved in relationships, work and life in general.

There are many benefits at a practical level such as feeling more motivated with a sense of purpose, all of which increases our capacity to function and be more productive and creative. Depression and Anxiety can impair us greatly at the practical level and whilst it is a good starting place to get life back on track it is essential to get to the core of the condition if we are to reclaim ourselves and the life we were meant to live.

Many clients go to the core and completely turn their lives around.

Can I explore my issues/concerns in my own way?

Whilst as counsellors we can offer a variety of approaches, we endevour to orientate to a clients preferred way of exploring. Some clients want to explore dreams, use symbols/metaphors, religious or other story forms.

A number of Ancient approaches have become popular such as the Kabhala, Chakra System, Ayurveda, Meditation/Visualization. If your counsellor has experience and understanding of these systems then it will be an optional way of adventuring and exploring.